Should I be worried b/c my 16 mth old born @ 30 wks only says dada and mama, but mostly dada?

I am worried because everything that I read says that he should have more words in his vocabulary. His hearing has been checked and that is fine. I hate to ask his ped, b/c I feel like he is already thinking that I am just over anxious. Any advice or experience with babies or preemies would be helpful.

Answers:
I would contact your local Early Intervention Office. They will come and do an evaluation for free, and if your son does qualify for Speech Therapy, he will get it for free. My daughter was born at 25 weeks and at 16 months was still only babbling "dada" and "baba", with no meaning. She had been doing this from about 10 months old, and it was her lack of progression that had me worried. She was evaluated and we started ST at 18 months. She had ST for 7 months and was discharged b/c her speech took off! You don't need to go through the Pediatrician to do this. I understand that sometimes Peds without much experience with premature babies do tend to think parents of preemies are over-reacting. You are NOT over-reacting! Even correcting your son's age, he should be doing more than just babbling two sounds by now. When my daughter was evaluated at 16 months, her corrected age was 12 months. She was determined to be at a 6 month level at that time with expressive speech skills! You have a valid reason to be concerned, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Good luck!

Don't worry he is doing fine.. Boys usually take longer than girls to talk.. just keep doing what you are dong.
Now if after his second birthday he still only says a few words then I would begin to become concerned.. But right now he is OK.

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Should I be worried b/c my 16 mth old born @ 30 wks only says dada and mama, but mostly dada?

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